Gay men who refer to each other as women

I know a number of rather camp gay men who use "she" when talking to and about each other (eg "ooh she's in a bad mood today") or refer to their group of friends as "sisters". For some reason this irritates me. Usually it's because one of them is acting in a way they perceive to be "woman-like" - being OTT, screeching, being a bit hysterical in general. And I guess it bugs me that they think this is what women are like. Perhaps I'm not being very clear here but does anyone else understand what I'm talking about?

As a lesbian with a huge number of gay friends and a regular visitor to gay events I have never met anyone that does this. 'Camp' behaviour yes but the calling each other she and sisters no. I would have thought that would be more associated with transsexuals than gay men.

I live in a cathedral city which until recently had a theological college, where many of the gay and camp trainee vicars gave each other female names and were very shrill and 'catty' with each other when in full flow after a couple of schooners of sherry.

And they really really didn't want women to have any substantive role in the church.

I am pretty shocked at this. I thought gay men might be more pro-women, seeing as they know what it is like to suffer discrimination. Ah well, I gues first and foremost, they are men,with all the shite that entails.

Hermione tbh I don't know a single gay man - at least an out one - I live in a very insular country town and know one lesbian that is it! So I just presumed....should have known better! Mind you, I remember one gay man years ago who was my boss. It was a silly part time job. I was going out with a gynaecologist (now husband) and was speaking of how he was working in SE Asia to help the women there. He said, 'Oh, he is gay then', when I mentioned his job. As if my DH would be disgusted or turned off by seeing women intimately! Pig!

I quit my job and told that arsehole I would think badly of him forever.

Good Lord- are all the gay men you know time travellers? I thought that went out with Julian and Sandy and Polari. Ditto the screaming queens with their schooners of sherry.

But no. In my experience gay men are no more likely to be feminist than straight ones. Depressingly. And worse, it's easier to pretend they are because so many women are so very desperate to have a gay best friend.

effeminate and camp aren't quite the same as feminine. Many gay men were disparaged for not being proper men for being penetrated for one! so using her was often a reclaiming of this supposedly inferior status. and not transsexuals, certainly not because that would mean taking it seriously! in fact in the current climate she for gay men would probably, like drag, be seen as transphobic. frankly i'd prefer the camp gay men and screaming queens any day to the current gender polarisation and policing.

Irene - no it was quite recent, and I have known a number - not many, but enough to see it as a 'thing'- gay men who really hated women, and when in 'safe' company said the most disgusting things about women and their bodies.

Especially a couple of really 'queeny' (sorry can't think of a better expression) types , a bit like Pete Burns, who I think were consumed with envy and hatred towards glamorous women as they themselves almost parodied and mimicked them.Perhaps there is a psychological explanation around the hatred of near differences or resentment towards who or what they cannot be that fuels it.

Also know plenty of gay men who are good allies of feminism and very anti-misogyny.